Arsenal, Leicester and Man City: Is it better to finish first or second in the Champions League group stage this season?

Topping your Champions League group has often been considered vital for teams wanting to progress beyond the Round-of-16 stage of the tournament – just ask Arsenal.

The Gunners have failed to finish top of their group since 2011/12 – a scenario that has seen them come up against Bayern Munich (twice), Monaco and Barcelona in the next stage and contributed to them failing to reach the quarter-finals since 2009/10.

Arsenal play PSG tonight knowing a win will mean they top Group A – while a draw against their French opponents will probably be enough as well. But is topping the group actually a good thing this season?

Meanwhile, Leicester have already secured top spot – a great achievement but the best outcome for Claudio Ranieri’s side?

Then there’s Manchester City, who look likely to progress as runners-up to Barcelona – a blessing in disguise?

Is it better to finish first or second then?

It seems that this season there is little advantage. Despite potentially topping their group for the first time in five years, Arsenal could still play Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. Leicester’s prize for taking Europe by storm – the same potential opponents, plus PSG.

Man City, who look most likely to finish second, could also face one of Europe’s big boys – Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Atletico Madrid all potentially standing between them and the quarter-finals. But they could play Monaco or Benfica, two sides Pep Guardiola would be very confident of beating.

Guardiola won the Champions League twice when he was at Barcelona (Getty)

Group winners do get home advantage in the second leg of the Round-of-16 ties, but it seems the luck of the draw will be more significant this season than ever, regardless of where teams finished in their group.

Every group scenario explained…

Group A: Arsenal and PSG through. Group winner will be determined by winner of meeting between the sides. If a draw it goes to goal difference, with Arsenal currently ahead by three.

Group B: Benfica, Napoli, Besiktas and Dynamo Kiev can all still qualify for the next phase. However Benfica and Napoli have more points and look the most likely to progress

Group C: Barcelona, Man City, Borussia Monchengladbach and Celtic can all still progress. Barcelona can guarantee place in next round with a win over Celtic, or even if Man City beat Monchengladbach. Man City need a draw with Monchengladbach to be through to the next phase

Group D: Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich are through. Atletico will top group if they win or draw when they next play Bayern

Group E: Monaco group winners, Bayer Leverkusen runners-up

Group F: Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid through, Dortmund will top group if they win or draw with Real Madrid in final game

Group G: Leicester group winners, FC Porto or FC Copenhagen will qualify second. Porto through if they beat Leicester in final game, Copenhagen through if Porto drop points and they match their result

Group H: Juventus through and will top group if beat Dynamo Zagreb. Sevilla need draw with Lyon to go through in second, or could top group with win if Juventus lose. Lyon must beat Sevilla by two goals to go through in second